Mass Innovations, From The Beacon, March 2026
In an effort to retain volunteer firefighters and attract new recruits, a new Swansea program will offer retirement payments to former volunteers, an initiative local officials said is the first of its kind in Massachusetts.
Town officials say the new incentive gives Swansea a way to honor the important service of its firefighters. They also see the program as addressing a critical need: The number of volunteers has dropped steadily over the years, from about 125 in 1989 to 76 now, while the number of emergency calls continues to rise. The health of the volunteer service helps stave off a more costly alternative, said Town Administrator Mallory Aronstein.
“If people stopped showing up, we would be literally without a fire service,” Aronstein said. “If we had to suddenly replace these volunteers with a professional fire department, it would most certainly mean a [Proposition 2½] override and stressed finances for the rest of the town…